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Massachusetts Man Dies After Tree Falls On His Truck During Nor'easter

PLYMPTON (CBS) -- A Plympton man was killed when a tree fell onto his pickup truck during the nor'easter on Friday, the Plymouth County District Attorney announced.

Ryan MacDonald, 36, of Plympton, was found trapped in the Dodge Ram pickup truck. He was pronounced dead at the scene, the DA said.

Plympton Storm Victim Ryan MacDonald
Ryan MacDonald. (Family photo)

MacDonald, a young father of two and an electrician, was driving home from work, traveling along Cedar Street during the nor'easter when died, said his father-in-law, Edward Brown.

"It's terrible. It's just tragic. We're still grieving. We just can't believe we lost him," Brown said Saturday.

He described his MacDonald as selfless.

"He's the kind of person that goes out and helps everybody," Brown said, tears brimming in his eyes.

Plympton Police went to a Cedar Street home after a 911 call reported that a large pine tree had crushed a truck around 5:15 p.m.

No one else was in the truck at the time.

Plympton-storm tree-death
The scene of a fatal accident that killed a Plympton man during the nor'easter. (WBZ-TV)

Downed trees made the roads impassable for drivers and first responders trying to rescue MacDonald.

"It took almost 45 minutes to get help out there, and then it became worse. We couldn't get the tree off the vehicle," said Plympton Fire Chief Warren Borsari.

Local residents were stunned to hear about MacDonald's death.

"It's completely devastating. It's horrible," said Lauren Lekkas of Plympton, who saw several downed trees blocking roads around town during and after the storm.

"These trees are so high and you really don't think about it until things like this happen," Lekkas said. "It could happen to anyone at anytime. It definitely makes you a little nervous."

The family hopes to keep MacDonald's memory alive for his two young children.

"I think Ryan would love to be remembered as a kind person, always there to help, always goes the extra mile, just a loving person," Brown said.

He is believed to be the first storm-related death in Massachusetts.

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